McPherson County, Nebraska Demographics
Population trends, housing costs, income, commuting, and health, all on one page.
McPherson County, NE Population Density Map and Area Scores
Area Score
Health, income and education, each graded from F to A+. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
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N/A
Health Not enough data
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C
Income Below average
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D
Education Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | McPherson County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 475 | 1,978,686 | 337,468,954 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 0.6 | 25.6 | 86.4 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.66% | 0.63% | 0.59% |
| Median age | 45.5 | 38.3 | 37.3 |
| Households | 212 | 797,835 | 130,235,071 |
Population in McPherson County declined by 4.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching 475 in 2024.
Population Growth 2009–2024
Race & Ethnicity
Age & Sex
The largest generation in McPherson County is Gen X, aged 45–60, at 26.0% of residents. That is 7.6 points above Nebraska as a whole.
- Gen Z 13–28 79 16.6% -6.2 pts
- Millennials 29–44 70 14.8% -6.2 pts
- Gen X 45–60 123 26.0% +7.6 pts
- Boomers 61–79 107 22.5% +6.2 pts
Residents by birth cohort, from the 2025 age distribution. The right-hand figure is how far each cohort's share sits above or below Nebraska, in percentage points. Children younger than Gen Z and the generations before the Boomers are counted in the population but not shown here, so these shares do not add up to 100%.
Male and female share
Women are 47.8% of the people living in McPherson County and men 52.2%.
- Women 47.8% Nebraska 49.9%
- Men 52.2% Nebraska 50.1%
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Residents matching this profile
100% of everyone living in McPherson County
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Economy
McPherson County has a the economy index of C, which means it is somewhat prosperous.
| Metric | McPherson County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,736 | $76,615 | $80,455 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 1.53% | 4.27% | 4.80% |
| Unemployment rate | 1.0% | 3.0% | 5.2% |
The median household income in McPherson County is about 29% lower than in Nebraska.
Housing
| Metric | McPherson County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | — | $175,282 | $248,835 |
| Median rent | $588 | $1,071 | $1,407 |
| Homeownership rate | 65.1% | 66.5% | 65.2% |
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in McPherson County spend about 26 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 108 hours, about 4.5 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | McPherson County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 13.0 | 17.0 | 22.4 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 25.9 | 34.0 | 44.8 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 108 | 142 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,346 | $4,390 | $5,790 |
| Work from home | 18.1% | 11.1% | 15.0% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | — | 5,179 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 35 | 691 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Nebraska:
Hooker County (7.4 min), Cherry County (8.0 min), Box Butte County (8.0 min).
Slowest:
Cass County (28.0 min), Banner County (27.2 min), Saunders County (26.9 min).
The average commute time in McPherson County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 17 minutes in Nebraska.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
McPherson County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | McPherson County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.2% | 30.8% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.24 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
Highest education index among counties in
Nebraska:
Sarpy County (0.3), Lancaster County (0.3), Douglas County (0.3).
Lowest:
Dakota County (0.2), Colfax County (0.2), Dawson County (0.2).
Health
| Metric | McPherson County | Nebraska Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | — | 79.5 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 14.1% | 12.9% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 18.2% | 16.6% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Nebraska:
Wayne County (0.8), Sarpy County (0.8), Lancaster County (0.8).
Lowest:
Thurston County (0.8), Pawnee County (0.8), Dundy County (0.8).
McPherson County, NE Compared With Nearby Counties
How McPherson County, NE compares with the 1 counties closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Median home price | Commute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McPherson County, NE | 475 | $54,736 #2/2 | — | 13.0 min #2/2 |
| Lincoln County, NE | 33,802 | $65,832 | $231,249 | 12.7 min |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about McPherson County, Nebraska.
How many people live in McPherson County, Nebraska?
About 475 people live in McPherson County, Nebraska, in 212 households of 2.2 people on average. The median age is 45.5, so residents are older than the U.S. median of 37.3 by about 8 years.
How densely populated is McPherson County, Nebraska?
Averaged over its land area, McPherson County, Nebraska has 1 people per square mile, a density typical of rural areas. That is about 1% of the U.S. average of 86.
Is unemployment high in McPherson County, Nebraska?
Unemployment in McPherson County, Nebraska is only 1.0%, well below the U.S. rate of 5.2%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
How common is a college degree in McPherson County, Nebraska?
19.2% of adults in McPherson County, Nebraska hold a bachelor's degree or higher (about 1 in 5), well below the U.S. share of 31.6%.
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